Kunming, November 25th,2012 - The 5th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students sponsored by Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province was concluded successfully in the evening. Xu Lin, Counselor of the State Council, Director-General of Hanban and Chief Executive of Confucius Institute Headquarters, Li Pei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Working Committee of Colleges and Universities of CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, attended the closing ceremony and presented awards to the award-winners.

This Chinese Bridge had the theme of “Learn Chinese and Make Friends Everywhere”, and a total of 102 contestants from 51 competition areas in 45 countries took part in this competition. The contestants not only participated in the various competitions including “Getting together in Yunnan – Written Test, Oral Test and Talent Show” and “Diverse Yunnan – Folk Culture Experience”, but also took part in the experience activities including planting “friendship trees”, visiting the stone forest of Kunming, learning about traditional Chinese culture, visiting a local secondary school and learning from the teachers there, etc. As a result, they had the opportunity to better understand and learn more about Chinese culture. After fierce competition, Jainneha and Drew Alexander from the USA won the first prize for comprehensive group performance, and Pan Lili from Russia, Zhiyan Jonit from Singapore and Susanna Louise from Sweden won the first prize for comprehensive individual performances.

At the closing gala, there were a number of performances, including the charming and dreamlike dance “Spirit of the Peacock”, the melodic and powerful “Beauty of Yunnan”, the humorous and funny drama “Grandson of Marco Polo Paying a Visit to Yunnan”, as well as the “Orchid Pavilion” with its integration of Tai Chi, Face Changing, calligraphyand instrumental performance. The closing gala had hundreds of high lights, and their enthusiastic performances expressed the contestants’ deep love for Chinese culture and won endless applause from the audience.

At the gala, Marie Bartlett from the USA also gave a surprise to the audience. She is General Claire Chennault’s brother’s granddaughter, who commanded Flying Tigers. In her spare time during the competition, she visited the Flying Tigers Building to look at the old photos and things of the Flying Tigers. “I am very pleased to have the opportunity provided by Chinese Bridge to visit the place where General Claire Chennault and my grandmother’s sister Ms. Chen Xiangmei used to live 70 years ago.” She was very thankful for having the opportunity to make this visit to China.

While the song “Friend” played, the secondary school students from different countries embraced each other tightly and reviewed their unforgettable 12-day trip in China. It was difficult for them to conceal their excitement, since the Chinese Bridge not only enabled them to become friends and meet the hospitable and kind-hearted Chinese people, but also bound them tightly to China.

The Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students was sponsored by Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters. Since its establishment in 2008, more than 900 foreign secondary school students from nearly 50 countries have been invited to take part in the competition in China. The “Chinese Bridge” provides a platform for the youths learning Chinese language in different countries to demonstrate their Chinese proficiency and exchange learning experiences. Now, this Bridge of Friendship is attracting more and more foreign students to learn Chinese language and get to know more about Chinese culture.